Places We Work: Brazil

The largest country in South America, Brazil’s unparalleled natural treasures include not only the dense tropical rainforests of the Amazon, but also the extensive grasslands of the Cerrado, the unique arid scrublands of the Caatinga, the Atlantic Forest, and the seemingly infinite wetlands of the Pantanal.

Many of Brazil’s plants and animals are found no where else on earth. Brazil’s sheer size, 3.3 million square miles—an area larger than the "lower 48" United States—and its abundant natural resources crystallize its importance. Brazil’s environmental health has the potential to impact all of us on a global scale.

As an emerging global economic powerhouse, Brazil faces the formidable challenge of encouraging rapid economic development while protecting its biological and cultural heritage. If the expansion of agriculture, ranching, logging, mining and other activities is not balanced with the needs of natural environments, these activities will greatly impact the survival of many plants and animals as well as the health and livelihoods of people.

With critical financial support from individuals, corporations and foundations, The Nature Conservancy works with Brazilian partners to keep native forests standing, create wildlife corridors, protect grasslands and coastal areas, and ensure that rivers nourish surrounding habitats as well as the people who rely on their waters.

We work closely with local communities to ensure a positive impact on the people who live in and around these important areas for biodiversity. With its partners, the Conservancy engages Brazil’s public and private sectors – state governments, corporations, indigenous groups, and local communities – in developing innovative, market- and science-based strategies that protect natural habitats and waterways while fostering economic and social development.